McDonald In Second, Lady Bulldogs Four Shots Back Of Medalist Finish

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Sophomore Ally McDonald's 1-under-par 71 paced the Mississippi State women's golf team to a seventh-place, 15-over-par 303 card during Sunday's opening round of the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown at the Stallion Mountain County Club.

McDonald bogeyed her opening hole of the day before posting a birdie-bogey-birdie to conclude the first nine. After birdieing the second hole on the back, the Fulton, Miss., native turned in a bogey-birdie-par to conclude the round at 1-under. She is currently in second-place, just one shot back of tournament-leader Elizabeth Tong of Indiana.

The Lady Bulldogs' 303 card tied them for seventh-place with No. 50 UCF. MSU is just four shots back of third-place Minnesota. The team also owns a seven-stroke lead over SEC-foe Missouri.

"I was proud of the way the team had a 'one-shot mentality' today," third-year MSU coach Ginger Brown-Lemm said. "We battled windy conditions with gusts up to 35 miles-per-hour and turned in a solid round. If the girls continue to focus on their score and not the field, we will have the opportunity to move up the leaderboard over the next two rounds."

Fellow sophomore Rica Tse also currently owns a Top 25 card in the Mojave Desert. Her 3-over 75 card earned her a share of 23rd.

Junior Mary Langdon Gallagher chased Tse into the clubhouse with a 77, while Elena Warren and Gabi Ourbre' rounded out the Lady Bulldogs' leaderboard with an 80 and 81, respectively.

Second-round action begins Monday at 8:30 a.m. CT with the Lady Bulldogs slated to tee off alongside UCF and Kansas State.

Live stats will be available through HailState.com. Fans can also keep up with the women's golf program through the women's golf twitter account, @mstateWG, or Facebook account, facebook.com/mstateWG.

Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown
First Round - October 21, 2012
TEAM RESULTS
T1. No. 37 Wisconsin (292, +4); T1. No. 41 Indiana (292, +4); 3. Minnesota (299, +11); T4. No. 25 Penn State (300, +12); T4. San Diego State (300, +12); 6. No. 36 UNLV (302, +14); T7. Mississippi State (303, +15); T7. No. 50 UCF (303, +15); 9. Kansas State (308, +20); T10. No. 48 Missouri (310, +22); T10. New Mexico State (310, +22); 12. Fresno State (311, +23); 13. Kennesaw State (314, +26); T14. Washington State (316, +28); T14. Idaho (316, +28); T14. North Texas (316, +28); 17. Long Beach State (322, +34); 18. Colorado State (326, +28).

MSU INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
2.         Ally McDonald               71, -1|
T23.     Rica Tse                        75, +3
T40.     Mary L. Gallagher           77, +5
T62.     Elena Warren                 80, +8
T70.     Gabi Oubre'                   81, +9